By Lane Afable, News Editor
It would be shameful for the Senate if a leadership change occurs to keep the upper chamber from convening as an impeachment court for a possible case against Vice President Sara Duterte, according to Sen. Erwin Tulfo.
“I don’t know where they will get the courage to do that,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview with radio dzBB on Sunday.
“It would be very obvious for the group that would initiate a coup d’état. How will they explain that to the public? That there’s a coup d’état to prevent the impeachment? Because of the impeachment, there has to be a change in leadership? That’s not the answer. It’s actually a question because people will ask why they staged a Senate coup,” he added.
Talks about alleged plans to unseat Senate President Vicente Sotto III escalated as the House of Representatives is expected on Monday to vote on the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte and is likely to send the case to the Senate for trial.
At least 106 votes are needed from the lower chamber to impeach Duterte.
In a statement on Sunday, Sotto said he heard about the coup rumors.
“I leave everything to God’s plan. I trust His heart,” he said.
“I heard. As always, I serve at the pleasure of my peers. I uphold and follow the Constitution!” he added.
The Senate leader earlier committed that “if ever we receive the Articles of Impeachment, we will act on it forthwith.
For me, forthwith means the following day.”
He later clarified that while the Senate will immediately convene as an impeachment court, the trial proper will take some time due to preparations.
He cited pre-trial procedures, including sending Duterte a copy of the Articles of Impeachment.
Tulfo said he believes it would be better for the Senate to proceed with the trial.
“As they said, you’ll have a day in court. So whoever it is, even if it’s the vice president, she’ll have a day in court to explain,” Tulfo said.
“The surveys show the people are waiting… They also want to hear everything. They also want this over and done with. So if she’s not guilty, then it’s over. The people want an impeachment trial,” he added.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, believes that Sotto remains “on stable ground” despite allegations of Senate coup talks “because he is showing the right leadership.”
“His pronouncements are based on the law and our Constitution. His pronouncements are in line with the work of the Senate, which states that if the Articles of Impeachment are indeed brought to us, the impeachment court must convene,” he added.
He also said the impeachment trial should not be a “matter of choice or a change in leadership.”
“It’s a responsibility of the Senate. You can’t sit on it for so long, or you cannot fail to proceed because it is very clear in our Constitution to try forthwith, and there is no other leeway. This is part of the process and accountability mechanism of the Constitution,” Gatchalian explained.
Currently, Sotto still enjoys the support of 14 of his colleagues in the majority bloc.
